A military veteran from the island has become one of very few people to cross the Empty Quarter desert in Oman, the world’s largest continuous desert.

The Douglas resident, a former Royal Marine, was part of a 17-man expeditionary team, comprised of injured British military veterans, which set out to traverse hundreds of miles of massive sand dunes, some up to 400 feet high, in off-road vehicles.

The vehicle which Rob was travelling in actually crashed during the expedition, but no one was injured.

Rob, aged 37, and his companions were following in the tracks of famous British explorer Wilfred Thesiger, who succeeded in making the journey on camels, with a 50-strong support team of desert tribesmen, just after World War Two. He took two months. The former servicemen made it in less than a week.

The expedition was arranged by VetRun180, which is run by two former Royal Marines, who take veterans struggling with physical injuries or suffering from symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, on 4X4 adventures worldwide, free of charge.

Rob joined the expedition after he was medically discharged from the Army with injuries sustained while training for special forces.

He later developed PTSD related to when one of his friends was killed next to him while on a military training exercise. Rob was one of the first on the scene and dealt with the man’s serious injuries, along with other members of his section.

’Vetrun180 has given me a sense of purpose again,’ he said. ’A new lease of life.

’On a day to day basis mine was not a happy life. When I left the Army I handed my card in and that was it. No one even said goodbye. I was homeless and I felt abandoned. But on this expedition I got back amongst people like me and we had a laugh. I had not laughed that much in years.

’To get over PTSD you need to open up to people. Before I went on this expedition, and a previous VetRun180 trip to Portugal, I felt like there was no hope in me. But now, I have actually driven the Empty Quarter. Only a handful of people have ever done that and we smashed it. I feel like I have a true purpose again.’

VetRun180 co-founder Matt Abbott said: ’Thesiger was an ex-Army officer so it was fitting that our team of military veterans should attempt such an epic journey.

’We covered 700 miles of desert faster than we expected. These were some of the biggest dunes in the world and it is a testament to the resourcefulness of the veterans that we made it.

’We were frequently stuck and there was only us to get ourselves out. We were in the middle of the desert all alone.’

Matt had to overcome his own injuries to make the journey.

He lost part of his thigh and calf in Afghanistan when he was hit by a rocket, and has undergone 10 years of operations, the last one just a couple of months before the trip.

’We organize expeditions like these to show other veterans, who are struggling with combat-related injuries, what they are capable of,’ he said.

Matt’s partner in VetRun180, Matt Bispham MC was awarded his Military Cross for extraordinary bravery in Afghanistan.

He said it was important to encourage injured military veterans to re-engage with other ex-servicemen.

’From my own experience, I know this is better than any other therapy I was offered. It got me off the sofa, where I was feeling incapable and sorry for myself, and gave me new focus, which was exactly what I needed.

’The military-type camaraderie, the laughing, the challenges; I realised I had missed it so much. Suddenly I was laughing again. We have all been through the same difficulties, and just as we fought together, we can get better together in an environment we are used to.’

’It is not about just going on a a nice trip,’ said Rob. ’We created a community. Now there is someone to ring up if I am feeling low, who will understand. And I will get the guys from the trip over for the TT. I need to introduce them to the Isle of Man.’

Dubai-based company, SKA International Group, sponsored the trip.

The company’s international group’s director of operations, Jim Finch, who is ex-Army, was the guide for the Empty Quarter crossing.

He handed over navigation of the route to the veterans after just one day.

Jim said: ’I couldn’t believe how good they were. I guess it is their innate confidence. They just got stuck in straight away. They also took a tougher route than I was expecting them to take.

’Rather than finding the easiest route, going around the side of the dunes, they went straight over the top, which was more fun, and more of a challenge, and they did it.’

VetRun180 is keen to hear from any military veterans, suffering from disabilities or PTSD symptoms, who might like to join one of their expeditions.

For further details visit vetrun180.org